Who has an Artificial Christmas tree Who has a Real Christmas tree?

[the simple life]

Quote:
You know that the growers plant those trees specifically to harvest as Christimas trees right?
They don't just randomly cut down all the naturally growing trees in the forest and hope they can sell them, all the ones that are grown around here are from tree farms.
Besides even if you don't buy one the trees are already cut, if they don't sell they get composted or trashed.
Unless you sent word that you weren't buying one this year and the tree growers left one extra tree there on the tree farm/forest.

 

[Kansaseq]

I'm with Mahonri; I feel bad cutting down a tree for my personal use. Doesn't matter if they grow them specifically for that purpose, I still would feel bad. I have a little flocked pop-up tree I got from Walmart many years ago. I leave the lights on, pull it out of the box, and presto, it's Christmas! It goes on a table to keep naughty dogs from messing with the ornaments, though often times I leave it plain. Also, I display my collection of deer 'sheds'; naturally shed antlers. I have them arranged on my bookshelf,and string lights throughout them for a nice, natural light display. I also have have some deer skulls lighted (purchased online, from people who either found them in the woods or hunted them and try to use the entire animal.) I find an austere beauty in the natural forms-ala Georgia O'Keefe. What can I say; I'm a bit odd!

 

[moonlyghtegirl]

Aluminum tree...

 

[MissPrissy]

I do not feel bad about cutting down trees grown for a purpose same the way I don't feel bad about growing chickens for meat. I grew up in an area of Georgia where trees are harvested by pulpwood and lumbers companies. Forestry management is a well respected science and every tree taken is replaced. After a while old trees don't really help the environment.

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

What about both?

 

[alpinefarm]

I couldn't vote!
I need another category: Real, but still living, not dead/dying...our family decorates a living tree outdoors with treats for the birds...

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

I do both. A fake tree for my room and a real one for the entire family. My brother and I just love to go hunting for a tree in the mountains. It's one of our favorite traditions to do together.

 

[quercus21]

We cut 1 every year. The last couple of years it's been a Balsm Fir. Usually one or both of our college daughters will join us in picking out the tree. I still get to cut it down and carry it out.
Kaj

 

[LarryPQ]

I bought a 8" fiber-optic LED tree from ebay this year....after 5 years in this house using a 24" Walmart fiber-optic found in the post-Christmas clearance bin for $5.

Now construction is wrapping up, we have lotsa space, the kids are old enough to care, and WHOO DIGGY it is AWWWWEEEESOOOOMEEE! A little on the cheesey side, but it is wicked pretty and Mesmerises the little ones into sleepinesss!


We also decorate the saguaro skeleton in the great room....

 

[Bec]

We always have a real one, although I do not like the fact that they are cut down and die. We would much rather have a balled tree to replant out in the yard, but we can't afford one. I don't like to go cut one down ourselves.
I guess the way we look at it is kind of like hunting, I don't like hunting, but it is already cut so why not use it rather than waste it. When a hunter kills an animal, it is far better to use that animal than to let it go to waste.
It gets to come in and be loved by us and our kids and make Christmas special. When we are done with it, we always take it out and hang peanut butter seeded pine cones on it for the wild birds and then we lay it down for the chickens to play in. Sometimes it is used up until Easter.